José has been visiting this market for over 5 years. He began by talking with the vendors - asking them about their lives, offering to pray for their needs, and even, when possible, helping them with those needs. Many of the vendors themselves are very poor, dependent on the produce of the land. Yet José would ask for donations for 'the kids in zone 18' and would explain that the ministry of Hope for Guatemala was focused on helping the next generation of Guatemalans change the cycles of violence and poverty that mark their communities. It was a process, and over time more of the sellers began setting aside vegetables and fruit for José every Tuesday. More and more of them began asking him about the ministry, asking him to pray for them, and opening their hearts to the Good News of the Gospel.
Now, the donations have exceeded their wildest imaginations, overflowing their pickup truck & trailer with produce! We ran out of crates on Tuesday, and started piling lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes loosely on top of everything.
At one point, I came across José with tears in his eyes. I promptly asked if everything was all right. His response was 'It's just so cool to see God working'. God gifted us that day with a ' shaft of glory'; a glimpse of true faith. One of the vendors shared that he was going through a particularly difficult time with his family, and was not selling enough fruit to make ends meet. José prayed for him and encouraged him to keep trusting the Lord's hand to provide. At the end of their conversation, the vendor told José to take a crate of mangoes. But he didn't donate the overripe or bruised mangoes like many of the sellers do. He gave us the best mangoes at his fruit stand, as he handed over the crate of mangoes, he was acting in faith. He was professing the words of the Apostle Paul: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
After listening to José share this story, the Lord brought to my mind a story from the gospels. In Luke 21 it says: "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'"
(a photo 0f Jose talking with one of the vendors at the market, a faithful supporter of Hope 4 Guatemala!!)
It is so easy to give out of the 'extras' or over-abundance that we have been given, and that is not wrong. In fact, God commands the Israelites in Leviticus to leave the edges of their fields to be gleaned by the poor. Yet how many times has God given me the chance to 'sow' despite my own need? It actually goes against the grain of my upbringing in a certain way - giving my last 'hope' in the offering plate means I have no savings, no emergency fund, no 'fall back'. I am not saying we need to administrative disasters. However, God has been teaching Kevin & I that what may at times seem 'foolish' in the world's eyes is exactly what faith calls us to do. We have been asked to give in moments of difficulty, when we are down to the last $15 in our bank account. Yet he has been faithful in providing, and truly does meet our needs out of the 'riches of His glory in Christ Jesus'... meaning not only giving us financial provisions, but also the spiritual, emotional and physical provisions he knows we need.
Here I'd like to share a representation of those challenges and His abundant provision...
**Note: We are not asking for your support or trying to 'glorify' ourselves through these examples. We simply want to celebrate a lesson God is teaching us at this time in our lives!!
Gerson, Maria, & Daniela, who have been adopted by our church during their adaption process... from living on the streets to working and living in community. It has presented challenges because they are learning to earn their living instead of simply taking it or being given what they need. God has called us to give to them both materially and emotionally, despite our own poverty at times.
The provision of additional funds, making the purchase of a full-size van a possibility. Yet as Kevin would say, "every blessing comes with an expectation." We are called to serve the community in more ways than before with this additional resource. But the sacrifice is rewarding!
We are celebrating the official presentation of the book Prince and Princess, or Frog and Toad, a bilingual project that Kevin & I have been investing time and resources in over the past months! We have already been able to see some of the fruits of our sacrifice!
Stefanie comes to visit nearly every day. Often she comes looking for someone to talk to or meet her emotional needs... She is one of seven and usually left to care for her younger siblings while her mom looks for work. Despite Kevin & my desire for privacy at times, we have been asked to give of ourselves even in the most stressful or exhausting moments. We also had the chance to buy her a school uniform this past weekend despite all the expenses we had for the book presentation. God also reminded me this weekend that she is the most detailed, sweet friend I have here in Guatemala.. her constant letters and artsy gifts are a ray of sunshine on gray days :)
For example:
Our mission with Center for Transforming Mission & Christian Reformed World Missions is to "see and celebrate Good News in hard places." Jesus is our teacher in this process... observing and naming the generous widows among us, taking a moment to name and celebrate 'faith giving'. What is more, he goes on to give the even greater gift of his own life, leaving nothing to hang his hopes on. He places his full trust in God's plan for redemption.
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